Four way fight

Coutts maintains slender lead after Bribon and movistar win at Copa del Rey

After a well deserved rest following the offshore race, it was back to work for the TP52 fleet competing in the 24th Copa del Rey, the fourth event in the Breitling MedCup TP52 Circuit. A beautiful day opened up over the bay of Palma, with perfect sailing conditions. Lexus, with Russell Coutts at helm were leading the overall results, but only by one point over Caixa Galicia.

Today the Copa del Rey Race Committee planned two windward-leeward races. The first race began in 24 knots of breeze and was dominated by Bribon, owned by Spaniard Jose Cusi. The team were untouchable throughout the race despite threats from several of the teams.

Bribon's lead came down to a tactical choice made in the first of the four legs, where they chose to keep to the left of the first beat. Bribon moved into the lead with the recently launched Balearia behind then Aifos, the Spanish Royal Navy team close behind and Atalanti XV with Paul Cayard and Dean Barker on board. Caixa Galicia rounded in fifth place with Movistar sixth despite her strong start.

While Bribon were comfortably enjoying their lead, on the next leg, the Italians on Orlanda Olympus, with Tomasso Chieffi at the helm, took second place but with Caixa Galicia stuck to their stern like glue. Balearia were losing positions and Cristabella and Bambakou were involved in an incident, which would result in a protest later in the day.

The finish was tricky with all the boats apart from Bribon switching positions constantly. Bribon successfully fought off Orlanda-Olympus, Atalanti XV, Movistar and Lexus. Behind this group were Bambakou, Aifos and Caixa Galicia who went from fourth to eighth due to a mistake in a spinnaker manoeuvre. In ninth place were Balearia, followed by Siemens and Cristabella who paid heavily for their errors.

For race two it was once again Vascotto and Campos on Movistar who led from the start. The wind had picked up to 20 knots adding to the drama.

Behind Movistar at the top mark were Atalanti XV in close battle with Caixa Galicia and Orlanda close behind followed by Aifos and Cristabella. At the leeward mark, after a spectacular rounding of the buoy, the positions were still in the air, except for the Italian-Chilean vessel Movistar, who were followed by Atalanti XV, Caixa Galicia, Orlanda-Olympus and Lexus who were fighting one another match race-style. At the finish line victory was clearly Movistar’s, but the Greek team on Atalanti, led by Paul Cayard and Dean Barker, took second position with Caixa Galicia third, then Orlanda, Cristabella, Lexus, Siemens and Bribon.

After today's racing the fight for first place overall is now between four teams with Russell Coutts and Lexus maintaining their lead but with Movistar taking over second place. Caixa Galicia at tied on 50 points, while Atalanti XV holds four only three points away from the leader.

There is still all to play for in the final days of the Copa del Rey Aqua Brava

Results

1.Lexus Quantum Racing 5, 11, 11, 11, 7, 7(52)
2.MoviStar 10, 10, 5, 6, 8, 11 (50)
3.Caixa Galicia 11, 8, 10, 8, 4, 9 (50)
4.Atalanti XV 4, 9, 8, 9,9, 10 (49)
5.Orlanda-Olympus 3, 4, 7, 7,10, 8 (39)
5.Cristabella 8, 7, 9, 10, 1, 2 (37)
7.Bribón 7, 3, 4, 5, 11, 5 (35)
8.Bambakou 6, 6, 6, 4,6, 3 (31)
9.Siemens 9, 2, 2, 2,2,6 (23)
11.Balearia 1, 5, 1, 1, 3, 4 (15)
10. Aifos 2, 1, 3, 3,5, 1 (15)